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PODCAST

Our Public Lands

A podcast about our beloved and treasured public lands where I interview subject matter experts and activists from across the country who are working to protect and advocate for our public lands and their wildlife, wilderness, and cultural values. ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com

society & culture wilderness

All Episodes

47:41

#70 - Fighting to Keep Wilderness Untrammeled w/...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/04/01

In this episode, I welcome back Kevin Proescholdt of Wilderness Watch to discuss wilderness policy debates, focusing on large prescribed-burning proposals like the Forest Service plan to burn all 289,000 acres of Illinois’s Shawnee National Forest, including about 40,000 acres of designated wilderness, and a Boundary Waters project proposal to burn roughly 87,000 of Wilderness. Kevin and I dispute claims that Indigenous people broadly burned entire regions and landscapes, citing newer research

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51:49

#69 - Defending Alaska’s Brooks Range w/ John Gaedeke

Our Public Lands ·

2026/03/18

In this episode, I interview John Gaedeke, who was raised around a remote wilderness lodge near Inuk Lake in the Brooks Range, Alaska, and now helps lead Defend the Brooks Range. Our conversation centers on threats from proposed infrastructure and expanded mineral development, including the Ambler Road and changes to protections along the Dalton Highway corridor, which John says could enable heavy ore trucking, intensify industrialization, and increase risks to rivers, salmon, and caribou while

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60:58

#68 - Resisting the Whitewashing of National Park...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/03/10

In this episode, I interview Gerry James, deputy director of the Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All Campaign. Gerry describes his upbringing as a military brat that fostered a love of the outdoors and environmental protection, and discusses challenges he has faced as a Black man recreating outdoors. He outlines efforts to close the nature equity gap through youth programs, transit access to nature, and partnerships that train students as Sierra Club outings leaders, connecting outings to advocacy. Much

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49:20

#67 - The Great Big Giant Sequoia Scam Film...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/03/06

A live conversation with Dr. Chad Hanson about the deceptively named "Save Our Sequoias Act," wildfire, our new film, and public lands logging Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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70:50

#66 - Wilderness and the American Mind w/ Roderick...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/03/03

In this episode, I interview Roderick Frazier Nash, author of Wilderness and the American Mind, retired UC Santa Barbara professor and founder of its interdisciplinary Environmental Studies program, who discusses his background as a historian, longtime Grand Canyon commercial river guide, and reflects on his influential book Wilderness in the American Mind, which grew from his University of Wisconsin PhD work during the rising public interest in environmental protections back in the 1960s. He argues

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77:10

#65 - The Water Remembers: The Story Behind Historic...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/02/24

In this episode, I interview Amy Cordalis, Yurok Tribal member, attorney and environmental activist about the historic decommissioning and removal of the four lower Klamath dams — the largest U.S. dam removal project in history. Amy shares the Yurok creation story about living in balance with a living river and the tribe’s responsibility to steward salmon and water. She discusses the history of U.S. violence and dispossession of the Yurok and other California tribes, including unratified treaties,

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28:13

#64 - Exposing the Alaska Native Landless Equity Act...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/02/17

In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Wanda Culp, a Tlingit elder living in the Tongass Rainforest in Southeast Alaska, about how clearcut logging and other extraction have impacted Southeast Alaska communities and subsistence resources. She argues the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which created for-profit Native corporations, concentrates power and profits while many shareholders remain poor and landless. Our conversation focuses on Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s Alaska Native Landless Equity

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63:29

#63 - Livestock Industry Meddling in Sage Grouse Science

Our Public Lands ·

2026/02/10

In this episode, I interview Boone Kauffman, retired professor from Oregon State University and lead scientist of Illahee Sciences International, and Erik Molvar, Executive Director of the Western Watersheds Project to discuss the decline of the greater sage grouse and their habitat. Boone and Erik examine the impacts of livestock grazing and land use on sage grouse, the political stonewalling behind listing the bird as an endangered species, and the integrity of scientific research around the bird,

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84:00

#62 - The Gray Wolf: Myths, Misconceptions & Culture...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/02/03

In this episode, I speak with Amaroq Weiss, Senior Wolf Advocate, and Samantha Miller, Senior Carnivore Campaigner, with the Center for Biological Diversity, where we explore the ongoing challenges of wolf recovery and conservation across the United States, while dispelling myths along the way. Our conversation delves into the political pressures causing cyclical removal and reinstatement of wolf protections under the Endangered Species Act and the implications of state management, emphasizing

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57:43

#61 - Save the Boundary Waters w/ Ingrid Lyons

Our Public Lands ·

2026/01/27

Right now, the Boundary Waters is facing one of its most serious conservation threats in decades as efforts are underway to reverse a longstanding federal mining ban and open up lands in the Superior National Forest to copper-nickel sulfide mining. In January 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to overturn a 20-year moratorium that had protected the headwaters flowing into the Boundary Waters from sulfide-ore mining—now headed to the Senate and potentially the President’s desk. Proponents

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50:42

#60 - The Overlooked Ecological Costs of...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/01/21

In this episode, I interview Allison Jones, a seasoned conservation biologist with extensive experience in arid ecosystems—specifically the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin. We discuss a range of topics including juniper treatments, sage-grouse, pygmy rabbits, and the unique ecology of the Great Basin. Allison details her educational background, professional experiences, and contributions to wildlife and land management policy through roles in organizations like the Sageland Collaborative, the Wild

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65:01

#59 - Bernard and Avis DeVoto: The Forgotten Fight to...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/01/13

In this episode of the podcast, I speak with author Nate Schweber about the life and activism of Bernard and Avis DeVoto. Nate is the author of ‘This America of Ours.’ He shares insights into DeVoto’s work as a journalist, historian, and public lands advocate. Our conversation delves into Bernard’s early years and the profound impact growing up in Utah had on his advocacy for public lands. We discuss Bernard’s journey into becoming a leading voice against the privatization of public lands during the

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42:02

#58 - The Marbled Murrelet: An Old-Growth Forest...

Our Public Lands ·

2026/01/06

In this episode, I share a presentation by avian ecologist Lindsay Adrian of the American Bird Conservancy from the 2025 Bird Alliance of Oregon Marbled Murrelet Survey event. Lindsay discusses the unique biology and conservation challenges of the marbled murrelet, a federally listed seabird that nests in old-growth forests along the Pacific Coast. The presentation highlights the impact of the Northwest Forest Plan on murrelet populations, ongoing threats to their habitat, and the effectiveness of

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84:13

#57 - Wilderness, Inc: How Corporate & Libertarian...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/12/24

In this episode, I interview Scott Silver, about the transformation of outdoor recreation and its impact on wilderness preservation and “little w” wilderness values. The discussion explores the formation and mission of Wild Wilderness, an organization committed to protecting undeveloped recreation on public lands. We cover insights into the development of the 'Fee Demo' program, commercialization and privatization of public lands, the American Recreation Coalition, and corporate influence on

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51:36

#56 - Billionaire Ranchers, Political Interference,...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/12/16

In this episode, I interview Jimmy Tobias and Mark Olalde about their investigative series on public lands grazing featured in High Country News and ProPublica. They discuss their research methods, findings on political influence, economic implications, subsidies, and environmental impacts of grazing. Our conversation also covers billionaire and other high-profile ranchers such as large mining companies, as well as federal initiatives to boost the federal grazing program on public lands.04:23 Guest

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88:34

#55 - The Biggest Logging Project in Colorado History...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/12/09

In this episode, I speak with Josh Schlossberg of the Eco Integrity Alliance about what he calls the largest logging project in Colorado’s history—roughly half a million acres of planned industrial logging. The proposal is divided into four contiguous projects along the Front Range, with the newest, the Pikes Peak Vegetation Management Project, covering 200,000 acres on its own.The plan includes about 14,000 acres of logging inside four protected roadless areas and nearly a quarter-million acres of

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46:17

#54 - Early Adirondack History w/ Thomas Welch

Our Public Lands ·

2025/11/30

In this episode, I speak with Thomas Welch, retired pediatrician, Adirondack guide and amateur historian about early Adirondack history.Thomas discusses key historical events like the 1837 ascent of Mount Marcy led by meteorologist William Redfield and notable figures such as Verplanck Colvin, who mapped and surveyed the Adirondacks in the late 1800s, and Bob Marshall, a pioneer in wilderness preservation. The conversation highlights conservation efforts, and the significance of the Adirondacks to

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90:51

#53 - The Gallatin Forest Partnership Debacle w/...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of the podcast, I interview George Wuerthner, ecologist, author and president of the Gallatin Yellowstone Wilderness Alliance. An organization dedicated to restoring and protecting the Northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with a particular focus on the Gallatin Range north of Bozeman, Montana.George and I have a detailed discussion about the Gallatin Forest Partnership proposal and its impact on roadless land protection. Our conversation highlights key issues such as the flawed

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69:13

#52 - From Pinedale to Bozeman: A Life in the...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/11/11

In this episode, I speak with Kyle Lavin, a conservationist and wilderness and wildlife advocate from Bozeman, Montana. We talk about Kyle’s experiences growing up in Pinedale Wyoming and his strong ties to the wilderness areas of Montana and Wyoming. We discuss the significant changes in Pinedale and Jackson Hole, Wyoming over the years, from childhood memories to the impacts of natural gas production. Kyle and I discuss personal wildlife encounters, including rare sightings of wolverines in the

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60:26

#51 - Trouble Brewing in Our National Parks w/ Gloria...

Our Public Lands ·

2025/11/04

In this episode, I speak with journalist Gloria Liu about her recent article on National Parks in RE:PUBLIC and Outside Magazine, her career trajectory, and the significance of long-form journalism. We delve into the condition of national parks, the impact of staffing shortages, and the Trump administration’s approach to public lands. Gloria shares insights from her reporting trips, discussing the intrinsic value of preserving wild places for future generations. Highlights include her firsthand

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75 results

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